Door-spring.



N. B. WILDER.

DOOR SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.25,1912.

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DOOR-SPRING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1912 Application filed March 25, 1912. Serial N 0.686,049.

State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDoor-Springs, of which the followlng 1s a specification.

This lnvention relates to certain unprovements in and relating tosprings for closing doors, and other purposes, and the objects andnature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled inthe art in the light of the following explanation of the accompanyingdrawings illustrating what I now believe to be my preferred embodimentfrom among other formations, combinations and arrangements within thespirit and scope of my invention.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction and incombinations and arrangements as more'fully and particularly set forthand pointed out hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:Figure 1, is an elevation of astructure embodying my improvement and applied to a door. Fig. 2, is atop plan showing the positions of the parts when the door is in closedposition. Fig. 3, is a similar view showing the door opened and thusheld by the device of this invention. Fig. 4, is a detail perspectiveview. Fig. 5, is a detail perspective view of the link connection.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a socket plate or base 30, a link3, an arm 2, an actuating spring, and a comparatively large base plate1, formed with widelyseparated parallel outwardly-projecting perforatedflanges or cars 13, carrying a pivot rod or pin 12, and holding the sameparallel with and spaced outwardly from the face of the base plate. Thefulcrumed end of the arm 2, is mounted on rod 12, and is arrangedbetween and upheld by ears 13. The fulcrumed end of said arm iscertrally notched or bifurcated to provide a recess for the reception ofthe actuating spring and a cross or transverse portion 23, to be engagedby said spring, and to form upper and lower parallel widely-separatedrearwardly-projecting perforated arms 20, confined to swing on the rod12, and between the ears 13.

The outer or free end of the arm 2, is formed with a transverse bearingor journal bar or pin 21, parallel with the pivot rod 12, and bridgingthe outer end of a longitudinal slot 22, the inner end of which isclosed or bridged by transverse portion 23.

The arm 2, with its projections 20, and its hearing or journal 21, andtransverse web 23, is preferably formed in one piece by casting, dropforging, stamping or otherwise. The socket plate 30, is formed withparallel flanges 32, to provide an elongated groove in which the link 3,is fulcrumed on cross pin 31, to swing in the same plane as arm 2. Theflanges 32, guide, brace and support the link while the elongated baseproper forms the floor of the groove between the flanges and a stop tolimit the swing of the link in either direction.

The free or outer end of the link is pivotally joined to the free orouter end of the arm to swing therewith on a transverse axis. Forinstance, I show the free end of the link longitudinally slotted orbifurcated at 35, to embrace the journal 21, and form a bearing on whichthe link and arm swing, although I do not wish to limit the invention tothe bifurcated end as the arm and link might be otherwise pivotallyjoined. The actuating spring is bent from or formed of a single lengthof suitable spring wire or rod. The spring comprises a pair of alinedwidely-separated spring coils 5, diametrically-enlarged with respect toand loosely embracing the hinge pin 12, with the parallel ends 50, ofthe wire extending laterally from the opposite or outer ends of thecoils and bearing inwardly against the base plate 1, at widely-separatedpoints. Thecentral portion of the wire is bent to form a laterallyextending loop 51, extending from the inner ends of the two coils and atits free end bearing inwardly and centrally against the outer face ofthe transverse web 23, of the arm 2.

On applying the device to close, or hold open, a door or other swingingelement, the base 1, is secured by screws 10, or the like, to -the doorframe with the straight edge 11, of said plate parallel and about flushwith the hinged edge of the door adjacent to the vertical edge of thedoor frame. The socket base 30, is secured to the door by screws 33, orthe like, and is located a greater or lesser distance from the baseplate straight-edge 11, according to the distance the door is to swingopen before being locked in open position by the device described, aswill be hereinafter more fully pointed out. The straight-edge 11, is solocated with respect to the pivotor hinged rod 12, as to constitute agage or indicator for the proper location and application of the deviceto the door frame, thereby overcoming certain grave defects andobjections heretofore existing in swing arm door closers. If the baseplate is secured with the straight edge 11, approximately flush andparallel with the vertical edge of the door frame at the hinged edge ofthe door, it is then an easy matter to accurately locate and fix thesocket 30, to bring about the desired action of the spring closer.

When the door is swung open, the spring 51, resists such openingmovement through the arm and link, and the link swings outwardly fromthe door to a position perpendicular to the door and then swings back inthe opposite direction toward the door until the link assumes thereversed position about as shown in Fig. 3. The arm is carried by thelink toward and from the surface of the door during this swingingmovement.

When in the opening swing of the door, the arm and link reach theposition shown in Fig. 3, the door will be automatically held in suchposition, as the axis of the pivotal connection between the arm and linkhas passed beyond the dead center and hence the spring does not exertclosing force or power on the door but the power of the spring isconsumed in holding the arm pressed toward the door and locked by thelink against door-closing swing, the link being held in reversedposition by the arm with its free end pressed tightly against the socketfloor.

The door can be readily released from this locked position, by acomparatively slight force or power exerted on the door toward closingposition to cause the link to swing back from the socket floor and pastdead center. The spring will thereupon close the door and the parts willassume the positions of Fig. 1. The link is so formed that it cannotclose down on the floor of the socket 30, to a position parallel withthe door or in direct continuation of the arm when the door is in closedposition, even though the socket plate should be secured to the door ata greater relative distance from edge 11, than is indicated by Fig. 2.The bulge or convexity 36, will, under such conditions engage the floorof the socket when the door is closed and thus hold the linkapproximately in the inclined position shown by Fig. 2, with the axis21, between the link and arm located a distance outwardly beyond thedoor and beyond a straight line intersecting the axis 12 and 31. Thespring is thus exerting closing pressure on the door even when the dooris in closed posit-ion, and this pressure will be increased from thevery initial opening movement of the door. The opposite edge 37 of thelink is preferably concaved or reduced to permit the link when reversedto close in approximately parallel with the door and carry the axis 21,inwardly beyond the dead center and beyond the longitudinal center lineof the link. This action is also insured or can be attained by locatingthe axis 21, to one side of the longitudinal center line of link forinstance by offsetting or inclining the bearing slot 35, approximatelyas shown in Fig. 5 so that the axis 21, will be located outwardly beyondthe longitudinal center line of the link when the parts are in positionwith the door closed, and will be located in wardly beyond said centerline when the door is held open and the link is in reversed arm-lockingposition, as in Fig. 3. By this offset arrangement of the axis 21, withre spect to the center line of the link, the link will always be quicklystarted on its outward swing by the arm when the door starts to open,and the link will also more quickly assume arm-locking position on beingreversed.

The formation and arrangement of the parts is such that the door canbeheld open at any desired point between closed and completely openedpositions, simply by securing the socket 30, nearer to or farther fromthe gage or guide edge 11. If the socket 30, is located nearer to theedge 11, the range of swing of the door will'be reduced as the arc ofswing of the link will beshortened and the link will more quickly assumethe reversed or looking position. If the socket is secured at a greaterdistance from edge 11, the opening swing of the door before being lockedwill be increased as the possible are of swing of the link will belengthened and the link will not so quickly assume the reversed doorlocking or holding position.

Peculiar advantages in the durability and power of the spring are alsoattained by the employment of the spring approximately as shownjn viewof the distribution of strain to the several coils 5, and ends 50, andavoidance of concentration of strain on the coils or on the junctionsbetween the loop 51 and the spring coils. These coils do not tightlyembrace the rod 12, but the strain is distributed through the coils andto the ends 50.

' The device of this invention is exceedingly strong and durable and isadapted for use in various connections in controlling the movement ofswinging members. 7

It is evident'that various changes might be resorted to in the forms,arrangements and constructions described and hence I do not wish tolimit myself to the exact disclosure hereof.

What I claim is 1. A door spring closer and bolder comprising a baseplate having an edge adapted to be located approximately flush with thevertical edge of a door frame to which the plate is secured and adjacentto the hinged edge of the door, said plate having outwardly projectingparallel widely-separated lugs provided with a pivot rod spacedoutwardly from the face of the plate and a distance to one side of andparallel with said plate edge, an arm swinging on said rod as an axisand recessed at its fulcrumed end to form longitudinally projecting earsand a transverse portion, said ears receiving said pivot rod and locatedbetween said lugs, an arm actuating spring bearing against said plateand against said transverse portion of said arm, attaching means adaptedto be secured to said door, and a link fulcrumed to said means and atits free end pivotally joined to the free end of said arm and adapted toassume reversed armlocking position to hold the door open.

2. A door closer and holder consisting of a base plate adapted to besecured to a door frame and provided with and carrying a pivot rod, aswinging arm having a longitudinal slot and mounted at one end to swingon said rod as an axis, an arm actuating plate adapted to be secured toa door, a link at one end fulcrumed to said socket plate and at its freeend pivotally joined to the free end of said arm by an axis offset toone side of the longitudinal center line of the link, said link when inreversed door holding position projecting into said slot of the arm withsaid offset axis arranged inwardly beyond the longitudinal center lineof said link.

3. In combination, a base, an arm hinged at one end to the base to swingon a transverse axis, operating connections at the free end of the armand adapted to be applied to a door to swing the same, the hinged end ofsaid arm being recessed to provide spaced end projections and atransverse web spaced a distance from said axis, spring coils looselyembracing said axis and having lateral ends bearing against said plateand an oppositely projecting arm actuating portion bearing inwardly andcentrally against said web.

4. A door closer and holder consisting of a base plate adapted to besecured to a door frame and having a vertical axis, a swing ingdoor-closing-andholding arm mounted on said axis and at its free endhaving a transverse axis, an arm-actuating spring mounted on said axisand bearing against the plate and arm, a socket plate separate from saidbase plate and adapted to be secured to a door, a relatively-short linkfulcrumed to said socket plate and at its free end having an inclinedoffset slot receiving said axis of said arm to pivotally join the freeends of the arm and link by an axis arranged outwardly beyond thelongitudinal cent-er line of the link when the door is closed, andarranged inwardly beyond said center line of the link when the link isin reversed arm-locking position and the door is held open by the armand link.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NORMAN B. WILDER.

Witnesses:

JOHN BRISTLE, J. GRIER MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G.

